Altius, Pittsburgh

Call me boring, but when I find a restaurant I love, I tend to go back time and time again. So it’s become with my Pittsburgh favorite, Altius. The Mount Washington eatery with the great view of the city is award winning and well deserving of praise. From the chic atmosphere to the attentive wait staff, to the cocktails and dining, every detail is well attended to and impressive every time.

On my most recent trip, we had a window seat on the second floor (the huge windows look out over the Pittsburgh skyline and riverfront) and, once seated, were presented with a cylindrical cone of truffle popcorn to enjoy alongside cocktails. My choice for the evening was the Some Like It Hot — a delicious mix of bourbon, lemon, honey, Sriracha and cucumber that definitely carries a bite. My partner went with a more classic-style cocktail, the Old Hat, similar to an Old Fashioned. There are plenty of cocktails to choose from, ranging from the most adventurous to the more subdued, alongside a selection of beers and wine.

After a choice of breads (the focaccia is top-notch) and spreads, dinner is a difficult decision. My pick of the Ora King salmon was served on a decadent lemon crab risotto with a pomegranate gastrique; while the salmon was fantastic, I could eat bowls upon bowls of the lemon crab risotto. The heavier option of the grass-fed strip steak is my husband’s go-to, and it’s served with a side of duck fat-fried fingerling potatoes and herb Dijon creme fraiche. A selection of enhancements is available for the melt-in-your-mouth steak and the béarnaise was the perfect touch.

However, dessert always steals the show. The mint chocolate chip ball may not have an elegant name, but the presentation is impressive. A dark chocolate ball is melted tableside, revealing a square of Brazilian dark chocolate mousse and chocolate brownie.

Of course, a dessert cocktail is in order — the Liquid Chocolate Bourbon Ball is true to its description and dangerously addictive.

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